Clothesline holder



Feb. 9 1926.

E. M. OTT

CLOTHESLINE HOLDER Filed Dec. 26, 1924 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES EARL M. GET, 0]? CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GLOTI-IESLINE HOLDER.

A icants-filed December 26, 192-1. Serial No. 758,208.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, EARL M. O'r'r, citizenof the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClothesline Holders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is a device for securing the ends of weight-sustainingcables or ropes and is intended more particularly for bold ing clotheslines but may be advantageously employed in other fields. The primaryobject of the invention is to provide a device of simple constructionwhich will securely clamp the end of the rope so that it will not bereleased under the weight imposed thereon but may be easily drawn tautwithout requiringa disengagement of the line from the securing devices.This object and other objects which will incidentally.

appear in the course of the following description are attained in theuse of such adevice as is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, andthe invention resides in certain novel features which will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention showingthe same as it appears in use;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing another embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a post, wall or otherfixed support. In carrying out my invention, I employ a base plate 2which is secured to the fixed support by screws or other devices andconsists of a flat, preferably metal, plate having an open-ended recessor notch 3 ex tending vertically through its upper portion. At one sideof the recess or notch 3 adjacent the upper end of the base plate 2, a-

' stop bar 4 is formed thereon and said bar,

as shown clearly in Fig. 1, is secured to or formed integral with thebase plate adjacent one upper corner of the same and projects forwardlytherefrom and then transversely acrossthe recess 3 in spaced relation tothe upper end of the plate, the opposite end of the bar being free ofthe plate, as shown. A rope-engaging member is mounted within the recess3 and consists of a block or plate 5 of such dimensions as toapproximately fill the recess and provided at its lower end with studs,indicated at 6, to pivotally seat in the side walls of the recess. Theparticular manner of mounting the block is of minor importance and itmay be effected in various ways, the drawing showing the base plateprovided with notches 7 in its rear side just above the lower wall ofthe recess 3 so that the parts may be assembled before the base plate issecured to the fixedsupport.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs.

1 and 2, a stem 8 rises centrally from the upper end of the block 5, andthis stem merges at its upper end into a crosshead 9 whereby aT-shapedrope-engaging element is formed. The ends of the. crosshead 9are upturned, as shownv at 10, to provide stops which will prevent thecableor line 11 slipping laterally from the F crosshead and the upperedge of the block 5 at opposite sides of the stem 8 are made concave toform seats 12 which Will accommodate the head 9 and back of the same andthen between the crosshead and one of the seats 12, its free enddepending between the front face of the block 5 and the rear side of theclamping bar 4. When thus arranged, the end of the cable may be readilypulled so as to be drawn. downwardly between the block and the bar butmovement in the opposits direction will be prevented inasmuch asthestrain then imposed upon the cable will draw the block forward sothat the end of the rope will be securely clamped between the blockandthe bar 4 which extends across the front of the same, the end portion ofthe rope being securely held or pinched between the opposing surfaces,as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The greater the strain imposed upon thecable, the more tightly-it will be clamped and after it has been onceadjusted it willbe securely held without any liability to drop and causedamage to anything which may be suspended thereon or to release anyobject which may be secured thereby.

lVhile I prefer the form of the invention 7 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2and previously 7 described inasmuch as two cables may be held by itwithout interference with each other, the swinging clamping block may beon in the same manner.

formed as shown in Fig. 3. In this form of the invention, the body ofthe clamping block 13 is approximately of the same dimensions as theblock 5 previously described and is provided with trunnions or studs 14at its lower end to pivotally engage the base plate. The upper end ofthe block,-however, is square or flat, as shown at 15, and a stem orshank 16 rises from one side of the said fiat end. At the upperextremity of the stem 16, a rope-engaging head 17 projects slightlyforwardly therefrom and then transversely thereto, terminating in aninwardly projecting lug 18 which constitutes a stop for the rope orcable. This clamping block or rope-engaging member is engaged in thebase plate 2 just as the previously described clamping block was engagedand co-operates with the clamping bar 4i there- My device is exceedinglysimple and may be produced at a very low cost. It may be easily securedupon any fixed support without requiring skilled labor, and operates ina highly efficient manner for the purpose for which it'is designed.

The clamping block" 5 or13 may have a portion vof its Working faceserrated or roughened so as to obtain a firm binding grip upon theline,as indicated in the drawing, but the device operates efiiciently withoutthe serrations.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A line holder comprising a transversely disposed fixed clamping bar,a clamping block pivotally mounted in rear of said bar for movementtoward and from the bar, a stem rising from the upper end of theclamping block, anda crosshead carried by the upper end of the stemabove the bar and provided at its end with a stop to limit lateralmovement of a line trained over andunder the head, .the said line havingits end portion disposed below the crosshead and between the block andthe bar to be clamped by and between the bar and the front face of theblock.

2. A line holder comprising a base plate having a recess in its upperportion, a clamping bar projecting over the base plate at one side ofthe upper portion of the recess and extending across the recess inspaced relation to the base plate, a clamping block pivotally mounted inthe recess, a stem rising from the block, the upper end of the block atthe opposite sides of the stem forming rope-engaging seats, and acrosshead carried by the upper end of the stem and having line stops atits ends.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature. Q

EARL M. OTT. a 5.

